Trendsource background check...
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Being the frugal chickie that I am, I hesitated to do the background check and I'm really glad I did. I don't know when they changed it, but it now says this on the website:
"Active Field Agents conducting any type of OnSite Inspection will have until February 4th MARCH 4TH to become Certified before it is mandatory. This is only required if you are in the United States and perform OnSite Inspections."
*February 4th is crossed out and MARCH 4TH is in bold
Yay! I'm in Canada and don't have to do this at all. Had I panicked and done it when it was first posted, I would have wasted my money. For once, my procrastination has paid off
"Active Field Agents conducting any type of OnSite Inspection will have until February 4th MARCH 4TH to become Certified before it is mandatory. This is only required if you are in the United States and perform OnSite Inspections."
*February 4th is crossed out and MARCH 4TH is in bold
Yay! I'm in Canada and don't have to do this at all. Had I panicked and done it when it was first posted, I would have wasted my money. For once, my procrastination has paid off
On site inspections available to me now state ~
We just rolled out an OnSite Inspection Certification which requires:
1) Watching the Professionalism Video & taking a quiz
2) Getting Background checked (this costs $7.83) and we would be willing to reimburse you for half or the full fee for this. You do get to keep a copy of your background check for future use as well.
The shop fee has increased a bit also.
We just rolled out an OnSite Inspection Certification which requires:
1) Watching the Professionalism Video & taking a quiz
2) Getting Background checked (this costs $7.83) and we would be willing to reimburse you for half or the full fee for this. You do get to keep a copy of your background check for future use as well.
The shop fee has increased a bit also.
I worked for Trendsource about 10 years ago and it was a good company then. I just haven't found any jobs for me this time around. No big deal.
To comment on the BACKGROUND AND DRUG TESTING. I do merchandising shops that sometimes are overnight usually in home improvement stores. Home Depot, for one has a rule that NO ONE is allowed to work in their store that has not meet these two criteria. I was hired to "fluff" Christmas Trees by company ABC, yet I had to have the tests (at their expense of course) because I was working on Home Depot property. Maybe it has to do with their corporate policy or insurance or something like that. I don't take offense to it. I think it is funny. I've had 6-8 background checks and 2 drug tests done in the last 6 months. The people at "Background Check Central" must wonder sometimes.
To comment on the BACKGROUND AND DRUG TESTING. I do merchandising shops that sometimes are overnight usually in home improvement stores. Home Depot, for one has a rule that NO ONE is allowed to work in their store that has not meet these two criteria. I was hired to "fluff" Christmas Trees by company ABC, yet I had to have the tests (at their expense of course) because I was working on Home Depot property. Maybe it has to do with their corporate policy or insurance or something like that. I don't take offense to it. I think it is funny. I've had 6-8 background checks and 2 drug tests done in the last 6 months. The people at "Background Check Central" must wonder sometimes.
I end up doing a lot of Business Verifications for businesses located in private residences. I think a simple criminal check is reasonable. I tried looking at this from the other side, and felt that I might actually want even more assurance if I were to let someone into my home. The dollar amount involved is quite small. One business verification easily pays for it. I think that Trnedsource would have been better off having us pay for it, and if we pass, they reimburse us. But then I really don't know how many business verification agents there are. Either way, Trendsource could have chosen to recoup their cost from the clients. However, I am now arguing both sides since I started off saying that the amount was small enough that I chose not to worry about it.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I find myself unwilling to rationalize that way. Sorry. We are asked to go into "businesses" to determine whether THEY are legitimate with no criminal background check on THEIR part that I am aware of. Something about driving up to a private house as a female to do a BV and hoping it is a legitimate business. So no, I will not be rationalizing allowing anybody to do a criminal background check on me to see if I am suitable to be allowed into a residence where no criminal background check has been done on THEM.
I could more readily see/justify it if I was semi-supervised overnight in a retail business such as the Home Depot mentioned, but I would not be thrilled by that either.
I frankly expected that payments would be substantially greater for shoppers doing BVs with a criminal background check, but I have not heard that is the case.
I could more readily see/justify it if I was semi-supervised overnight in a retail business such as the Home Depot mentioned, but I would not be thrilled by that either.
I frankly expected that payments would be substantially greater for shoppers doing BVs with a criminal background check, but I have not heard that is the case.
Actually, Flash, payments by one of Trendsource's competitors are significantly higher. However, I do not recall ever having to have a background check by that MSC.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Unfortunately I have never found that competitor so the question is moot. I just feel that Trendsource missed an opportunity with their client to get more pay for their shoppers when the client demanded more so it is not my intent to participate.
Isn't that part of the beauty and appeal of MS! We can take jobs or not for whatever reasons, rationalization, or justification we may have!
Put that together with you work when YOU want to, not when your boss dictates, well...
Though I would never do a back graound check for this business, I had a national one done when I was in child care, so I know I have nothing to worry about. For me it is the principle also. The cost of doing business for a background check should belong to thecompanies, or the clients. If they have enough people who won't do them, they will end it.
Put that together with you work when YOU want to, not when your boss dictates, well...
Though I would never do a back graound check for this business, I had a national one done when I was in child care, so I know I have nothing to worry about. For me it is the principle also. The cost of doing business for a background check should belong to thecompanies, or the clients. If they have enough people who won't do them, they will end it.
I have had them done for child care, for teaching and for being a stock broker so it is not an issue of 'worry about' but of intrusion for no particular benefit. And was pointed out, I would wonder about the care and correctness of a background check performed that costs under $10.
Oh, for Pete's sake. It's only $7.83. That is not really that much money compared to what you can make by doing the Business Verifications. Frankly, this is a step they should have taken a long time ago. After all, to people's who's homes you enter for home-based businesses, they have no idea who you are and being that you have no identification from the company, they clearly have a good reason to be on edge.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2011 01:54AM by mystikwizard.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2011 01:54AM by mystikwizard.
Obviously we have a difference of opinion about what is appropriate and proper to request at the pay scale of what we are asked to do. And it is not the money at all but the principle of the thing.
AND, what about our protection? We don't know squat about the homes/businesses we are visiting. Looks like a two way street here to me:-)
I agree, Danabnnc. I have not chosen to do BVs in homes, close enough to me that I can drive by to assess the dwelling and neighborhood beforehand. Lovely home, nicely manicured landscaping, but still, it's not comfortable for me. Would it be reassuring to me if I were provided with a $7.83 background check on the individual? No, it would not.
Mystery shopping involves a huge amount of trust and instinct.
Mystery shopping involves a huge amount of trust and instinct.
Danabnnc, I had not thought of it, but I filter the assignments which I take. I look up the address on Mapquest, and when possible even find a street view using Google.
Aside from verification visits, I do the same sort of thing for other types of assignments for all MSCs. I very, very rarely accept a check cashing assignment because of the neighborhoods in which those types of businesses are located. If they need to sit behind bullet proof glass, why would I risk going there for the typical fee.
Met, you are right. MS requires a tremendous amount of trust and instinct. And as Tumbleweed pointed out, we each get to make our own decisions.
Aside from verification visits, I do the same sort of thing for other types of assignments for all MSCs. I very, very rarely accept a check cashing assignment because of the neighborhoods in which those types of businesses are located. If they need to sit behind bullet proof glass, why would I risk going there for the typical fee.
Met, you are right. MS requires a tremendous amount of trust and instinct. And as Tumbleweed pointed out, we each get to make our own decisions.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see we have to complete 3 sections to shop, and
> pay $7.83 to get a background check. Has anyone
> done this, I'm very hesitate, after working so
> long, to now require this tells me they have had
> problems with shoppers, and we now pay the price.
> I am resenting this fee and the background check,
> although I have nothing to hide. Throws me for a
> loop.
I found out through this report that someone in another state had been using my social security number and birthdate during the late nineties (and could still be using it). This info was well worth the $7.83. This has never shown on my credit reports; which is a scary thing. This report included the name, address, city and state of the person. I WILL be investigating further. Oh! My daughter has been working with TrendSource for 3 years and has never had a problem.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see we have to complete 3 sections to shop, and
> pay $7.83 to get a background check. Has anyone
> done this, I'm very hesitate, after working so
> long, to now require this tells me they have had
> problems with shoppers, and we now pay the price.
> I am resenting this fee and the background check,
> although I have nothing to hide. Throws me for a
> loop.
I found out through this report that someone in another state had been using my social security number and birthdate during the late nineties (and could still be using it). This info was well worth the $7.83. This has never shown on my credit reports; which is a scary thing. This report included the name, address, city and state of the person. I WILL be investigating further. Oh! My daughter has been working with TrendSource for 3 years and has never had a problem.
Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see we have to complete 3 sections to shop, and
> pay $7.83 to get a background check. Has anyone
> done this, I'm very hesitate, after working so
> long, to now require this tells me they have had
> problems with shoppers, and we now pay the price.
> I am resenting this fee and the background check,
> although I have nothing to hide. Throws me for a
> loop.
I found out through this report that someone in another state had been using my social security number and birthdate during the late nineties (and could still be using it). This info was well worth the $7.83. This has never shown on my credit reports; which is a scary thing. This report included the name, address, city and state of the person. I WILL be investigating further. Oh! My daughter has been working with TrendSource for 3 years and has never had a problem.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see we have to complete 3 sections to shop, and
> pay $7.83 to get a background check. Has anyone
> done this, I'm very hesitate, after working so
> long, to now require this tells me they have had
> problems with shoppers, and we now pay the price.
> I am resenting this fee and the background check,
> although I have nothing to hide. Throws me for a
> loop.
I found out through this report that someone in another state had been using my social security number and birthdate during the late nineties (and could still be using it). This info was well worth the $7.83. This has never shown on my credit reports; which is a scary thing. This report included the name, address, city and state of the person. I WILL be investigating further. Oh! My daughter has been working with TrendSource for 3 years and has never had a problem.
Considering the low price of that background check and the fact that "someone" is not using your credit, it is highly likely that a mix up or merging of some records was the actual culprit. That happened to me on a small scale here when my eye doctor's office got both a new office manager and new computer system. She kept telling me I was in their system and gave me the address on file. Despite me explaining and insisting I had never lived at that address and the only one they would ever have was actually my parent's address, she decided it was me and linked my records. It was not until my appointment was over that I also was informed of an outstanding bill, the other Lisa's not mine. The ensuing brouhaha was not at all pretty and in the end my doctor had the office manager write me a two page apology letter.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Records get mixed up frequently. I had a friend who went to the doctor to rule out a diagnosis of cancer. She was given a clean bill of health. A month later, the doctor's office told her she did, in fact, have cancer. She and another patient had the same names, and the doctor's office got the test results for each of them switched. It was a terrible situation for both of the women involved.
_____________________________________________________________________________
"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~Viktor Frankl
"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~Viktor Frankl
The background check is only for Business Verifications and other revealed inspections. I requested extra pay on a BV to cover the cost of the check and they paid it.
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